Select-alpha-coin bank



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1964 INUENTOGZ. W/uurae 5 WHNOFEY ATTORNEYS March 29, 1966 w. E. WANDREY 3,242,931

SELECT-A-COIN BANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1964 "warn-0a W914. 86E 5 WHAWPEY M, w W

ATTQENEY S United States Patent 3,242,931 SELECT-A-COIN BANK Wallace E. Wandrey, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to A. Gerett, Inc., Menomouee Falls, Wis., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 420,826 Claims. (Cl. 1336) This invention relates to improvement in a bank for personal savings and from which any denomination of the previously collected coins may be selectively recovered, and in a structurally similar coin container-dispenser from which the coins are to be individually recovered.

Generally, the present construction includes a base subassembly attached to a base block in which an open end of a number of transparent tubes are seated, for discharging coins from the tubes. The tubes extend in parallel from the base block and their other ends are seated in a top block, and a connecting rod joins the two blocks and the tubes in a given relation. The connecting rod is provided with a handle and is attached to the base-sub-assembly or a part thereof. Thus the handle and rod may be turned relatively to the top and base block-tube unit to rotate either the whole of the base sub-assembly or a part thereof relative to the base block.

In the case of the bank, the base sub-assembly comprises a flanged ring attached to a flanged base plate to retain a disk in a rotatable position. The disk carries a look by which either an aperture in the flanged plate and in the lock disk may be brought and kept in registry or may be kept out of registry. The lock comprises a cover plate receiving a bolt and a lock ward with a leaf spring bearing on the bolt and the ward and urging the bolt into one of several notches in the base plate. A key acting on the Ward can retract and hold the bolt out of any one of the base plate notches. The lock disk is attached to an end of the connecting rod so that either the lock disk and lock or the entire base sub-assemblymay be rotated. Thus the lock disk hole may he turned out of registry with the hole in the base plate and locked to keep all of the coins in their respective tubes; or the holes may be brought into registry to discharge all of the coins previously collected in a tube, when the base sub-assembly is rotated to bring the registering holes in alignment with the selected one of the tubes.

In the modification to be used as a coin carrier-dispenser, the base plate of the base sub-assembly, fastened to the base block provides a space for individually receiving coins from the tubes. A cam recessed in the base plate is under spring tension and is eccentrically pivoted in the base plate cavity where it can be engaged by one or another of the arms forming a rotor mounted on the end of the connecting rod. Each of the arms of the rotor is adapted to push a coin ahead of it and to engage for a part of its rotation with the cam whereby the coins are moved in clockwise direction toward a discharge position. The coins are finally given an impact in discharge direction upon release of the cam from the arm which had been engaging the cam.

In the bank modification, the tubes may each be for different denominations of coins but in the coin carrierdispenser form, all of the tubes are of the same diameter to receive the same coin. In the bank structure, the tubes may discharge all the coins therefrom at one time, through the base sub-assembly but in the coin carrierdispenser the coins pass individually through a base block slot for receipt by a person at that point.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a coin savings bank with five tubes each receiving a stack of coins, a portion being broken away to show the means for entry of the coins and for limiting return of the coins through the entry means.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through two of the coin tubes and through the lock to show the bolt engaged in a base plate notch.

FIG. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the base sub-assembly of the coin bank, showing the coin discharge openings registering with the open bottom end of one of the coin tubes.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of the base sub-assembly in the coin bank.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the coin carrierdispenser modification, with three tubes for stack of the same coin and having a base sub-assembly for individually dispensing the coins from successive stacks.

FIG. 7 is a cross section on the line 77 of FIG. 6, a portion being broken away to show the coin discharge slot of the device, and to show the position of the arms of the coin-dispensing rotor.

FIG. 8 is a cross section on the line 88 of FIG. 6 showing a portion of the dispensing mechanism and the relation of the coins thereto.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the base sub-assembly,

FIG. 10 is a cross section similar to FIG. 8 showing a fragment of structure to illustrate the position of parts doing movement of the coins to the discharge.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary figure similar to FIG. 8 to show one relationship of moving parts thereof, and

FIG. 12 is a developed view showing the relation of various stacks of coins to the coin propelling means of the base sub-assembly.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, 15 designates a base sub-asesmbly for the coin savings bank modification of the present structure as shown in FIGS. 1-5. The base sub-assembly 15 is attached to a base block 16 of substantial thickness and formed with plural holes therethrough, of which holes 17-21 are of different diameters to pass ditferent U.S. coins. The hole 22 is for another purpose described below. Holes 17-21 are formed with rabbets therein as seats for one end of the several transparent tubes 27-31 of different internal diameter to recieve the five smaller U.S. coins. The tubes 27-31 extend substantially vertically from the base block 16 and the other ends of the tubes seat on a sheet of flexible material 35 with tabs 36 out therefrom at spacing allowing the tabs to be bent to extend downwardly individually inside of the tubes. The tubes are preferably of some tough material such as a transparent synthetic resin and the top sheet may likewise be made of such material. The tabs extend across a notch 37 in each tube and which is of a size to allow entry of the coin fitting into the particular tube. The tabs are flexible inwardly to bend out of the path of coins entering the tube but normally prevent removal of coins from a tube through the tube notch. It is possible to force the tabs out of the tubes through the notches, but damage to the tabs or the tubes usually results and signals any tampering with the bank. The top sheet 35 seats in a recess in the top block 38 and the top and bottom blocks are connected by a rod 39 with a handle 40. The rod has'a shoulder against which the top block 38 is supported and a portion of the base sub-assembly is fastened to the lower end of the rod and bears against the base block 16 so that the rod serves both to connect the parts and for rotation of all or a part of the base sub-assembly relative to the base block 16.

The base sub-assembly 15, in FIGS. 1-5, comprises an upper plate with a recessed portion 41 receivable in a recess in the base block 16, and a peripheral flange portion 42 to be attached to the base block and having its periphery substantially coextensive with the periphery of the base block. A hole 43 through the base plate is of a size and is capable of positioning in registry with the lower end of any one of the coin tubes 27-31 to pass the coins therein, and the base plate has a center hole 44 through which the end of the connecting rod passes. Two notches 45, 46 are provided in diametrically opposite position in the base plate 4 1, 42 to receive a lock bolt as will be described. A lock disk 48 is held in place adjacent to the .base plate 41, 42 and :has a hole '49 registerable with and of the same size as the base plate hole 43. The lock disk 4-8 has holes "50 to receive the end tan'gs of the conn'ectir-ig .rod 39 and form a connection for either rotating the disk 48 or the entire base sub-assembly 15. The lock disk has a peripheral flange 51 which aids in positioning such disk relative to the base plate 4'1, -42. A base ring "52 partially encloses the lock .plate 48 and has a flange 53 to be attached to the flange 42 of the base plate. Thus the lock disk 48-50 is held rotatably in position at which its hole can be turned into .or :out of registry with the hole in the base plate and in which the lock bolt canbe turned to engage in either one :of the lock notches 45, 4% in the base plate.

The lock disk 48-50 is formed with several holes 57 for attachment and manipulation of a lock, and a slot 58 is made in the disk flange '48 to pass a 'lock bolt while an adjacent portion 59 0f the flange is bent inwardly to aid in holding .the lock in posit-ion. The lock itself comprises a recessed cover plate 62 with holes 63 for rivets to pass through some of the lock disk holes 57 for attachment of the lock cover thereto. A :key hole 64 in the ;cover 62 coacts with another of the disk holes '57 to receive a key. in addition to rivets 65 (see FIG. 4), the lock cover 62 is held in place by the inward bent portion 59 adjacent the slot 58 in the flange of the lock disk. A lock ward 76 is pivoted at one end in the lock cover 62 and extends across a notch 71 in the edge of the lock cover for receiving a bolt 72. A tab 73 on the lock ward 70 coacts with the notch 71 in positioning the bolt for substantially straight line movement when the lock ward swings about its pivot. An end 74 of the bolt 72 is bent to engage w-i'th the lock ward '70 and a leaf spring 75 seats in the lock cover recess and bears against the lock ward 70 and the bolt end 74 to urge the bolt outwardly through the cover notch unless the bolt is drawn back by a key acting against the lock ward in clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 5.

When the base plate hole 43 and the lock disk hole 49 are in registry, the bolt '72 is engaged with the base plate notch 46 so there can be no relative movement between the lock base plate 4-1, 42 and the lock disk 48. Rotation of handle 40 now causes the entire base subassembly to rotate as a unit and holes 43, 49 can be aligned with the open end of any one of the tubes 17-21, so that the coins may be discharged therefrom. When the lock disk 48 (and the lock) are to be turned to close off the base plate hole 43, the bolt 72 is first retracted from the notch 46 so that the lock disk 48 (and the lock) may be rotated relative to the base plate 41, 42 until such rotation brings the bolt 72 opposite the notch 48. The bolt 72 is then released and the spring forces the bolt to engage in the notch 48 whereupon the entire sub-assembly can again be rotated as a unit but the holes from the coin tubes remain closed.

In the modified construction shown in FIGS. 61'(), there are only three coin tubes of the same size, although obviously more tubes can be used. The base block and base sub-assembly are designed to coact in ejecting one coin at a time and to exhaust the stacks of coins in sequence. Hence the modified structure is especially useful as a coin carrier-dispenser wherever there is a substantial demand for the same coin.

In the present modification, a base sub-assembly is generally designated at 84 and a base block 81 partially encloses the base assembly and coacts therewith in providing a discharge passage ending in a slot 32 in the edge of the base block. Three coin tubes 83a, 83b and 83c are seated at one end in holes in the base block 81. The other ends of the tubes are seated in the top block 84 and a top sheet 35 with its flexible tabs 3-6 may be used if desired. A rod .39 with a handle 40, again passes through the blocks 81 and 84 for movement relative to the blocks and is connected with a rotor in the base subassembly to move coins from adjacent the tube ends to a discharge slot.

A base plate 87 has a central recess 88 in which is eccentrically pivoted a cam member having two edge portions 69 90 of difierent heights, the cam member being urged in one direction by a spring "91. A rotor 92 is attached to the end of the rod 39 and is formed with three identical arms designated 93a, 93b and 93c. Each of the arms is provided with a flange fi t extending from a portion of the forward edges of the arms toward the base plate 8'7. Such rotor arm flange acts as a pusher surface for the coins and ceacts with the cam surfaces 8?, 90 for shifting the cam to a position at which it can :give a Efi-nal ejecting thrust to a coin to force it through the slot 82 for 'accessibility from the outside of the device. Obviously, the base plate 87 can be formed to provide the discharge slot 82, and the base blocks 81 and 84 can be more nearly identical to those of H68. 1-5.

The coin tubes 83a, 83b and 830 and the rotor arms 93a, 93b and 95c are entil-distantly spaced around the centerline of the rod 39 whereby the end of one of the tubes is free for movement of the coin down onto the plate 88 at the time the open ends of the other two coin tubes are obstructed by the rotor arms as shown in FIG. 7. Assuming that the rotor 92, 93 is so turned that a coin can move downward from tube 836:, the coin will be engaged by rot-or arms 93a to push the coin clockwise while the rotor arms, 93b and 93c continue obstruction of their respective tubes "33b and 330. The coin from tube 53a, under the action of rotor arm 93a, moves under the coins in tube '83!) and asec-ond coin comes down from tu-be 83a. The first col-n moves under tube 33:: and the second coin moves under tube 83?) before a third coin comes down from tube 83a. (see FiG. 12). Thus all the coins in tube 83a are discharge first and are followed in succession by coins in tubes "83?) and 83c.

Each coin bears against the block -81, the cam edge 89 and an arm flange Mby which it is being pushed toward the discharge 82, until the coin reaches the position shown in FIG. 10. The cam 89, 9G is eccentrically rotated in the cavity in base plate 87 and cam portion 89 is also engaged :by the end of the arm flanges 94 to swing the cam clockwise and to tension of the spring 91. Later the flange 9e slides of? the cam part 89 and over cam part 94 (see HS. 11) so that the cam is free from the rotor 92, 93. The coin movesin-to discharge slot 82 and the arm flange 94 passes from cam edge 89 over cam edge 99 which releases the cam to the tension of its spring 91. The relative positions of an arm flange 94 and of cam edges 89, 9% are shown in FIG. ll.

An impact is then given to the coin which tends to force it through the slot 8 2. If the impact is not suificient to make a coin accessible to the person using the coin dispenser, the foilower arm '93 will push the coin farther through the slot to expose most of the coin outside of the base 81. The above action is repeated until all coins have been taken from the tube 83a. Then an empty space between the two arms will register with the end of tube 83b and coins from 33b will move down in sequence until the tube is empty, and the same action is repeated for tu'be 83c. Obviously, a greater number of tubes may be used than are shown provided they are arranged to co-act with rotors proportioned and spaced as above disclosed.

In each of the forms of the present invention, a group of tubes for receiving coins, are held between a base block and a top block by a connecting rod which can be turned to position parts of a base sub-assembly for discharge of coins from the tubes. The base sub-assembly may be provided with a disk having a hole rotatable into registry with a hole in a base plate and into registry with any one of the coin tubes for discharge of all or part of the coins therein at one time. Or the base sub-assembly may provide a passage for receipt of coins individually from a coin tube and delivery of the coins at a single point.

I claim:

1. A coin bank comprising upright coin storage tubes, top and bottom block members holding the tubes in clustered relation about a center axis, said tubes opening through said bottom block member, a base sub-assembly rotatable on said axis and comprising a plate having an off-center opening alignable with one or another of the tubes, a lock disk rotatable on said axis and having an off-center opening alignable with the plate opening, lock means for selectively locking the disk to the plate with their respective openings selectively aligned or misaligned, and means for turning the base sub-assembly comprising the locked disk and plate as a unit about said axis, said base sub-assembly blocking coin discharge from all tubes when the disk and plate are locked with their openings misaligned and said base sub-assembly permitting coin discharge from a selected tube when the disk and plate are locked with their openings aligned and in registry with said tube.

2. The coin bank of claim 1 in which the means for turning the base sub-assembly comprises a rod on the said axis and having a handle.

3. The coin bank of claim 2 in which the rod has shoulders by which said top and bottom block members are retained by said rod in assembled relation with tie coin storage tubes.

4. A coin dispensing device comprising upright coin storage tubes, top and bottom block members holding the tubes in clustered relation about a central axis, said tubes opening through said bottom block member, a base plate spaced beneath said bottom block member, a rod on said center axis and a series of sweep arms in the space between the bottom block member and base plate and connected to the rod to sweep beneath the tubes to convey coins therefirom, a lateral discharge slot in the base plate and a spring biased cam opposite said slot and against which a coin is pressed by a sweep arm for spring biased ejection of said coin laterally into said slot.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the sweep arms and conveyed coin block discharge of coins from all tubes beyond the tube containing coins which is first encountered by a sweep arm after it has passed the discharge slot, whereby the tubes are unloaded sequentially.

References Cited by the Examiner UNETED STATES PATENTS 990,533 4/1911 Fisher 232-5 2,136,623 11/1938 Kriegsfeld 232-5 2,653,850 9/1953 Vollten 221-113 2,691,379 10/1954 Foushee 133-5 3,161,351 12/1964 Lerner 232-5 LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Examiner. 

1. A COIN BANK COMPRISING UPRIGHT COIN STORAGE TUBES, TOP AND BOTTOM BLOCK MEMBERS HOLDING THE TUBES IN CLUSTERED RELATION ABOUT A CENTER AXIS, SAID TUBES OPENING THROUGH SAID BOTTOM BLOCK MEMBER, A BASE SUB-ASSEMBLY ROTATABLE ON SAID AXIS AND COMPRISING A PLATE HAVING AN OFF-CENTER OPENING ALIGNABLE WITH ONE OR ANOTHER OF THE TUBES, A LOCK DISK ROTATABLE ON SAID AXIS AND HAVING AN OFF-CENTER OPENING ALIGNABLE WITH THE PLATE OPENING, LOCK MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY LOCKING THE DISK TO THE PLATE WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE OPENINGS SELECTIVELY ALIGNED OR MISALIGNED, 